The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-17
FORESTRY CONGRESS.
Sessions Held at Springfield, Ill,
Yesterday.
4 Memorial 80 BE Presented to the
United States Congress-Elec
ton OF Onicers for the Year.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, September Is. -
Today's session Of the American Con-
sress Of Forestry opened with the
reading OF an interesting paper on the
subject Of forestry, prepared by
Joaquin Miller, Of California. A reso-
luton was adopted thanking Mr..
Miller for bis production, after which
the Committee ON Nomination re-
ported the following officers for the
ensuing year: President, the Hon. O.
z. Pringle, Of Atlanta, Ga; vice presi-
dente, the Hon. H. G. Jolley, Quebec;
Joseph F. Fay, Boston,; j. H. Parsons,
Colorado, and Albert Kenney, Cali
iornia; treasurer, the Hon. Martin
Conrad, Chicago; secretary, B. E. Fer
now, Washington, D. O., and record
ing secretary, Charles @. Bell, Boone
Vile, Mo.
Resolutions were adopted as fol-
lows:
Naming the months from August
10 October, inclusive, 90 the time OF
holding the annual meetings Of the
Congress, the exact date to be fixed
by the Executive Committee; raising
the life membership fee from $40 to
800; constituting the two secretaries
and the treasurers permanent com.
mittee on finance; creating Q commit.
We to urge the adoption by Congress
Of bill fer the encouragement OF for
estry and protection Of forests on gov.
eminent domain; recommending that
I'll national societies interested In the
promotion Of agriculture and forestry
and kindred subjects hold their an
nual meetings next year In the same
city ct the same time; creating Q COM
mittee to draft bill to be presented
70 the legislative bodies Of the various
States for the appointment Of State
forestry commissions, and the protec.
ton OF forests and encouragement OF
tree growth. The Hon. ID. A. Rob-
ertsop, Of st. Pau, MIMI, read brief,
but instructive paper on the "Climat.
ology, Geography and Ty Biography OF
the Great Continental Plains Of North
America" alter which the Congress
adjourned sine die.
The congress has prepared the fol-
lowing memorial to Congress-:
"WHERKAs, The present laws in re
gard to the public lands as far as they
relate 10 the disposal OF timber lands,
or OF the timber from the same. are
entirely inadequate to the require
ments OF the preeen. state OF civilzs-
ton; are unreasonable, pernicious and
prejudicial to the best interests Of this
country, and have tendency to In.
duce fraud, theft and perjury.
"Wheress, Eipf cislly In the Rocky
mountains and Pacific slope region,
the mining interests in regard to ma
terials and supplies, and the sgricult.
ural interests in regard to q favorable
distribution Of water supply, are threat
ened with danger, or have already
been endangered by the thouehtless
and unnecessary deuudstion Of the
mountain slopes and hillsides.
"Whereas, By ak, by the teeth Of
cattle, snd by fire, many millions OF
dollars worth OF public property have
been destroyed without any benefit to
any one, owing 10 the neglect on the
part OF the government TO protect the
property OF the people.
"Whereas, Favorable agricultural
and climatic conditions Of country
are largely dependent upon proper
amount Of we'll distributed forest area,
and especially the preservation OF the
fores, cover on the mountains.
"Whereas, Such preservation can
not be had under tie existing laws
ncr Can be expected st tie hands Of
private individuals.
"whereas, BY the disposal OF the
timbered areas now In the hands OF
the United States, and by their de.
VISITATION under present conditions
going on unchect ed, the power 10 In.
sure proper forest regulations passes
from the people.
Therefore, The undersigned memo
rialis,s, imbued solely by desire 10
further the best interests OF the coun.
try at large, most respectfully and mr..
gently pray that you will without de-
lay give consideration TO and enact ne
q law the suWoined bill which pro-
vides for tie withdrawal from entry or
sale, classification and proper dispofal
or administration Of public forest
lsnds."
The bill contains twenty-three Sec
tions aud provides for the protection
OF the forests; the withdrawal Of for.
est land from entry under existing
laws; the classification Of forest lands
the creation OF forest reserves; the
sale Of timber on government lands
the creation OF Commissioner oil
Forests In the Department Of the In
terror, and four assistant commission
ers; the oreauisltion OF q force OF In.
speeton and an appropriation Of $780,